The Rondout Valley/Route 209 corridor has been a hotbed for UFO sightings since long before Whitley Strieber wrote his 1987 best-seller Communion, about his alleged alien abduction from a cabin in Accord. The little town of Pine Bush decided to embrace this dicey distinction by making an annual tradition of hosting a UFO Fair. You don’t need to have seen inexplicable lights in the sky or crossed paths some dark night with “grays,” or even believe that extraterrestrial visitors exist, to find some fun at this event, which returns this Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Pine Bush UFO Fair takes place mostly outdoors, along Main Street – although there’s also a Speaker Tent at 51 Main Street (affectionately termed Area 51) where you can hear UFO experts, paranormal speakers and authors hold forth on the area’s history as an alien magnet and other topics, plus a walk-through attraction called the UFO Museum & Paranormal Center. Plenty of folks will be cosplaying, and the Alien Stroll at 1:30 p.m. offers photo ops galore.
You can play the game show You Bet Your Asteroid, chase down clues in the “Eye-Spy an Alien” scavenger hunt and ogle the eldritch charms of extraterrestrials in the Alien Beauty Pageant. There’s live music all day, pop-up street performances, tons of vendors of food and UFO novelties. Admission is free. Absolutely bring the kids. For more details, visit https://pinebushufofair.com.
UFO Fair
Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free
Main Street, Pine Bush
https://pinebushufofair.com
